Prison for man who robbed brothers of their phones

A MAN who robbed two young brothers of their mobile phones at knifepoint has been jailed for two years.

Derek McCann, who has 31 previous convictions for offences including robbery, burglary, assault and possession of a firearm, followed the boys as they walked to sports practice in Dublin, a court heard.

McCann, who had been released on the suspended portion of a previous sentence when he committed this robbery, stood in front of them blocking their path. He attempted to grab the boy’s phone and the younger boy tried to stop him.

The older boy told his brother to allow the man take his phone and to hand over his own as well. Both boys handed over €6 each they had for sports practice.

McCann later decided to give the boys back their money and told them to go home. He threw the older boy’s glasses on the ground and told them: ‘Not a word about this to anyone.’

McCann, of Walkinstown Park, Walkinstown, Dublin, was later arrested and the phones recovered. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbing the phones at a location in Dublin city on September 29, 2014.

The court heard McCann was ashamed of himself for the ‘cowardly’ robbery and had written a letter of apology.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a fouryear sentence but suspended the final two years on strict conditions.

He is currently serving the reactivated two-year sentence and will begin his new term when that sentence ends in April.